jackwhiteiii.comCan I let you in on a little secret that probably puts me at odds with most of the music-verse, but I’ve never really been a fan of Jack White in any of his incarnations. Not The White Stripes, not The Raconteurs, not The Dead Weather, and not as just Jack White. He just mines a particular vein of classic blues-rock that I have no affinity for; but I do respect him. His work ethic, his devotion to a particular ideal of American music, his belief in the power of analog, his strong sense of aesthetic, and the fact that despite indulging his eccentric tendencies – this Guinness world record stuff is pretty absurd – he’s managed to become maybe the last bona fide rock star in popular music.

And so his solo debut Blunderbuss, released late last month, has been one of 2012’s big releases. And I would imagine that a goodly number of you out there would like it and perhaps like to own a copy. And so, courtesy of With A Bullet, I’m happy to give away one copy of Blunderbuss on vinyl LP – just like Jack would want it – and two on CD – just like Jack accepts is a necessity of the modern age. Hey, it’s better than giving away MP3 download codes, no? To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want a Blunderbuss” in the subject line and your full name in the body along with whether you want the LP, the CD or either, and have that in to me by midnight, May 31. And sorry, contest open to residents of Canada only.

And oh hey, I have a White Stripes story. You know the 2007 tour they took across Canada – documented in the Under The Great White Northern Lights film and live album – where they played a secret intimate show in each city? The Toronto one at the downtown YMCA took place right next to my apartment. And though I was at work when it went down, my cat could have watched it if there were windows strategically placed in the outer walls of the Y. Not that he would have, he doesn’t dig The White Stripes either. He’s an Iron & Wine cat.

Video: Jack White – “Sixteen Saltines”
Video: Jack White – “Love Interruption”

Amazon.comThis week’s selection is more geographically topical than anything as while I’m not actually in New Jersey, but I did land there en route to Brooklyn, and if I were to trek down to the waterfront I could see the Garden State. Not Atlantic City, though, as that’s still a ways away.

And while I’m not here specifically for NYC Popfest, it’s a bit of fortuitous timing that will let me catch Allo Darlin’ in Littlefield in Brooklyn tonight in closing the festivities. They covered New Jersey’s favourite son – that’s Bruce Springsteen and not Jon Bon Jovi, just so we’re clear – as part of a 2009 tribute album entitled Play Some Pool – Skip Some School – Act Real Cool: A Global Pop Tribute To Bruce Springsteen. With an indiepop-skewed roster of artists, it may have sought to prove the Boss’ influence went beyond just folk singers and bar rockers and having not heard the whole thing I can’t comment on how well it did, but I think Allo Darlin’ did a good job of capturing the darker tones of “Atlantic City” while still sounding like them.

Tonight’s show marks the end of their North American tour in support of Europe – hopefully not the last leg as they didn’t make it up to Toronto this time around – and Springsteen will be embarking on the second leg of his tour behind Wrecking Ball later this Summer, hitting The Rogers Centre in Toronto on August 24. Maybe Allo Darlin’ can open?

MP3: Allo Darlin’ – “Atlantic City”
Video: Bruce Springsteen – “Atlantic City”

Frank YangWho: Cœur de Pirate
What: Montreal’s Béatrice Martin, already a star in Francophone parts of the world thanks to her piano-based Gallic pop, has finally set her sights on conquering English Canada.
Why: Following a triumphantly sold-out show at The Mod Club last November in support of her second album Blonde, she’s touring right up until the doctor tells her to stop – on account of her first baby being due in early Fall. So see her while you can!
When: Friday, June 1, 2012
Where: The Opera House in Toronto
Who else: Victoria’s Kandle opens things up.
How: Tickets for the show are $22.50 in advance but courtesy of Livenation and Grosse Boite, I’ve got a prize pack consisting of a pair of passes and a deluxe CD edition of Blonde to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Coeur de Pirate” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, May 27.
What else: Martin was recently listed as one of Macleans‘ Canadians under 25 to watch – which, if you think about it, is exactly what I’m facilitating here.

Video: Cœur de Pirate – “Golden Baby”
Video: Cœur de Pirate – “Adieu”

Frankie BatistaWho: Mayer Hawthorne
What: Ann Arbor-born, Los Angeles-based artist who specializes in giving a classic, old school soul sound a modern sensibility.
Why: His second studio album and major label debut How Do You Do was released late last year.
When: Friday, May 25, 2012
Where: The Hoxton in Toronto (19+)
Who else: Connecticut’s own The Stepkids open up.
How: Tickets for the show are $20 in advance but courtesy of Embrace, I’ve got two pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Mayer Hawthorne” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, May 23.
What else: The Indianapolis Star and Billboard have feature pieces on Hawthorne and if you dial back to last year, a covers EP he released for free is still available to download.

Video: Mayer Hawthorne – “Henny & Gingerale”
Video: Mayer Hawthorne – “Dreaming”

Liam MaloneyThe Canadian music scene got a little/lot less rock last night when word got out that Handsome Furs – the Wolf Parade spin-off that arguably equalled or bettered that project – had hung it up. Word came via a blog post without much in the way of explanation, and considering the previous post was in reference to cancelling European tour dates in March due to an “urgent health issues”, one can only hope that this is a decision that Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry are choosing to make rather than having it forced upon them.

Boeckner’s fans are surely reeling considering this is two of his bands retired in the past eighteen months, but according to the The Victoria Times-Colonist, he’s already got a new project in the pipe – based out of his new apparent homebase of Los Angeles – so maybe people won’t have to wait to hear his distinctive yelp coming out of their speakers again. Maybe he’s just trying to keep up with former bandmate Spencer Krug in terms of bands on their CV?

In any case, this announcement makes last year’s fist-clenchingly synth-soaked Sound Kapital the final word from the band. Not a bad note to go out on. And, of course, the fact that Canadian journos will go into the long weekend with Handsome Furs on the brain and a little over a week to assemble our Polaris Prize ballots may give the already favoured Sound Kapital a little extra push… not to mention if they make the short list, maybe they could be persuaded to play one, final gig for the gala in September. Hey, I’m just spitballing here.

MP3: Handsome Furs – “Repatriated”
MP3: Handsome Furs – “What About Us”
MP3: Handsome Furs – “Radio Kaliningrad”
MP3: Handsome Furs – “I’m Confused”
MP3: Handsome Furs – “Cannot Get, Started”
MP3: Handsome Furs – “What We Had”
Video: Handsome Furs – “Serve The People”
Video: Handsome Furs – “What About Us”
Video: Handsome Furs – “I’m Confused”
Video: Handsome Furs – “Cannot Get Started”
Video: Handsome Furs – “Dumb Animals”

Blurt gets to know Patrick Watson. He’s at the Music Hall on May 29.

Denver Westword and The San Francisco Chronicle profile Plants & Animals; they play Yonge-Dundas Square the evening of June 15 for NXNE.

The AV Club interviews Paul Saulnier of PS I Love You.

Feist hits the street for the latest video from Metals.

Video: Feist – “Cicadas & Gulls”

Yeah that’s all for today. I need to slink into the long weekend and get away for a bit.